Flow management systems and related methods for oil and gas applications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11274501-B2
Application number	US-202016923631-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 8, 2020
Priority date	Jul 8, 2020
Publication date	Mar 15, 2022
Grant date	Mar 15, 2022

Abstract

A method of managing a fluid flow within a conduit includes determining a presence of a flow blockage within the conduit, the conduit being equipped with an expandable device, controlling an electric actuator to flow a current to the expandable device to expand the expandable device radially, compacting the flow blockage radially along a length of the expandable device to create a channel adjacent the flow blockage, controlling the electric actuator to terminate a flow of the current to the expandable device to collapse the expandable device radially, and exposing the channel to open the conduit to fluid flow.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of managing a fluid flow within a conduit, the method comprising:
determining a presence of a flow blockage within the conduit, the conduit being equipped with an expandable device;
controlling an electric actuator to flow a current to the expandable device to expand the expandable device radially;
compacting the flow blockage radially along a length of the expandable device to create a channel adjacent the flow blockage;
controlling the electric actuator to terminate a flow of the current to the expandable device to collapse the expandable device radially; and
exposing the channel to open the conduit to fluid flow.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the expandable device comprises an electrosensitive device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the expandable device comprises a piezoelectric element.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the expandable device comprises a corrosion-resistant material.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein compacting the flow blockage comprises providing direct contact between the expandable device and the flow blockage.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein compacting the flow blockage comprises deforming the conduit radially inward.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising flowing the current along an actuation line that extends between the electric actuator and an electrical connector at the expandable device.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a flow rate of fluid flowing through the conduit at a flow rate sensor.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising securing the expandable device to the conduit with a plurality of straps.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising installing the expandable device to an exterior surface of the conduit.

11. The method of claim 3 , further comprising expanding the expandable device to an expanded configuration in response to an internal charge generated by the current.

12. The method of claim 3 , wherein the expandable device comprises a piezoceramic material.

13. The method of claim 6 , wherein collapsing the expandable device comprises causing the conduit to deform radially outward to expose the channel.

14. The method of claim 7 , further comprising flowing the current through the expandable device.

15. The method of claim 7 , wherein the actuation line comprises an electrical cable.

16. The method of claim 8 , further comprising controlling the electric actuator based on data acquired by the flow rate sensor.

17. The method of claim 9 , further comprising adjusting each strap of the plurality of straps based on a local diameter of the conduit.

18. The method of claim 9 , further comprising distributing the plurality of straps along an entire length of the expandable device.

19. The method of claim 9 , further comprising installing a protective cover along an outer side of the expandable device.

20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising contracting the expandable device to a collapsed configuration upon termination of the flow of the current that generated the internal charge.

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co

Inventors

• Shariff Maher Maqbool
• Makogon Taras Yurievich

Classifications

• E21B2200/09

  Detecting, eliminating, preventing liquid slugs in production pipes · CPC title

• B08B9/027

  Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages · CPC title

• E21B17/006 Primary

  Accessories for drilling pipes, e.g. cleaners (wear protectors E21B17/10; handling drilling pipes E21B19/00; thread protectors B65D59/00) · CPC title

• E21B33/1277

  characterised by the construction or fixation of the sleeve · CPC title

• F16L55/24 Primary

  Preventing accumulation of dirt or other matter in pipes, e.g. by traps, by strainers · CPC title